Discussion

What's your favorite kitchen gadget?

If you had to name your single favorite gadget, the one you just can't live without, what would it be? I want to buy something interesting and useful as a gift for a serious cook, but can't come up with any ideas.

There's a few things I use very often: citrus zester, cheese grater, small fine mesh strainer. But probably my favorite kitchen tool (not sure if it would count as a gadget) is about a dozen little Pyrex bowls. When I'm prepping a meal, I use them to divide all the prepared ingredients before actually cooking. Its very easy to set up mise en place with them. It impresses dinner guests too, when they walk in and see all the ingredients neatly arrayed in little bowls.

Here's a picture of what I'm talking about. I have four each of some of the smaller bowls. You can get them at places like Williams Sonoma, Sur La Table, or restaurant supply stores.

I am in complete agreement. A large number of very small bowls, for ginger, garlic, spices, herbs, plus a few 1-2 cup sized bowls, for chopped vegetables and so on, will take you far.

I also like my zester, a small cutting board, a really big ladle, my 5 cup Pyrex measure, and my set of nested round cutters. I gave a friend a set of alphabet cutters, which she loves passionately and uses constantly. (She has children. Her pies read "Eat me," her cookies can be used for spelling lessons, her cakes say Happy Birthday in marzipan.)

Oh, and I yearn for small versions of both my OXO salad spinner and my colander. You can find little ones now for rinsing/spinning a bunch of parsley or a pint of blueberries. These things take up a lot of room on the drying rack, so there would be something beyond satisfaction in having mini versions.

my husband and i love to cook. and often we plan a weekend getaway involving a house rental. so these are the things that we can easily pack to take with us in case we find ourselves with an inadequately equipped kitchen. unfortunately, i can't name just one "i can't live without" gadget so here are my top picks: 1)silicon trivets 2)flexi cutting boards3)microplane (but a box grater will work just fine as well)4)immersion blender and/or mini cusinart (but if you make margaritas or a smooth creamy soup at the last minute, you'll be happy to have the immersion blender).5)a durable long steel for sharpening the knives6)tongs, long and short7)flexible spatula (for turning delicate things like fish fillets or silver dollar pancakes)8)silpat (for anything but especially cookies)9)joy of cooking cookbook(if you need a reference, or simply to be inspired)10)a cast-iron pan. preferably seasoned but an enameled one will suffice.and of last but certainly not least, 11)a good set of knives! if you have to pick one then it'd have to be a chef's knife.now in terms of what things i don't have, probably don't really need but wish that a friend or a loved one would buy for me are:1)hand held torch (for creme brulee, etc.)2)ice cream/yoghurt maker3)a potted planter of herbs that are ready to be used (no waiting for maturity)4)standing mixer5)knife sharpening stone6)a really good espresso machine

I agree with all of the items mentioned and I also think Kuhn Rikon veggy peelers are the best. They are the Y shaped ones and very sharp, I have 6 of them. Then there is my silicon basting brush, no more hairs in my food and it cleans in the dishwasher beautifully, I love the Zyliss can opener that leaves no sharp edges, you can actually put the lid back on the can. Those French clothes pins that are plastic coated or stainless and so handy for clipping all sorts of things closed. Also, odd sized measuring spoons and cups. I got mine at WS and they are time savers. 2 C. 1.5 C 3/4 C. 2/3 C the spoons are 2 Tbs. 1 1/2 Tbs and 2 tsp. When I was doing a lot of baking in December I was surprised at how much faster it was not have to measure twice for 2/3 C etc. Another thing I refer to all of the time is a magnet that was produced by a cooking shop that I used to work in many years ago. It is a list of measurments and their equlivents 1 C= 8 fl oz=16 Tbs = 48 tsp = 237 ml. A Suzi garlic press, my meat thermometer that is digital and while the probe goes in to the meat the meter sits outside the oven. No need to open the door. I also have one that has a wireless remote that I can clip to a belt and keep track of the temperature from anywhere around the house. I keep forgetting how to set the temperature on that one, the other is easier. But, what I love most of all is my desk in my kitchen with my lap top. I can cook, work and keep in touch with my clients all at one time.

There are several types of silicon basting brushes I've seen. Some with tapered bristles, some with "knobbed" bristles. Some with plastic handles, some with metal. Some short handles and some longer handles for using with a BBQ or oven I guess. They all run from $7-20.

I like all the suggestions so far and heartily second, or third, the Microplane suggestion.

But if I were giving a gift, either to a new cook or an experienced one, the gift I'd give is a very good quality set of stainless steel dry-measuring cups and measuring spoons. Several companies make good ones. You want the heavy-ish ones, not the cheapest ones like they sell at the grocery store.

These will last several lifetimes, and because they're heavy and well made, are safe in the dishwasher and won't bend out of shape, thus making them less accurate. It's one of those "everyday luxury" items that I love to give -- very practical and useful, but the best of its kind. I'd rather give the finest quality of something simple/inexpensive, rather than a lesser quality of something more, em, flamboyant.